Mechanosensitive MicroRNAs and Bone Formation

Mechanical stimuli are essential for maintaining bone metabolism and play key roles in regulating osteogenic cells’ differentiation or proliferation and bone formation. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of evolutionarily conserved short (~22 nucleotide fragments), single-stranded noncoding RNA involved in diverse biological processes. There are increasing number of evidences that multiple miRNAs have played a vital role in regulating osteogenesis. Significantly, recent emerging preliminary data indicate that several miRNAs (regarded as “mechanosensitive miRNA”) are sensitive to different mechanical stimuli and involved in process of bone cells activities and osteogenesis. Functional roles of mechanosensitive miRNAs in mechanotransduction during bone remodeling and further mechanism has long been a topic of scientific interest. This chapter highlights the influence of mechanosensitive miRNAs on osteogenesis and underlines their potential therapeutic applications for skeletal diseases induced by different mechanical environment.